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Tanya Granic Allen says PCs have ‘betrayed’ social conservatives but she still expects party to scrap sex-ed

A defiant Tanya Granic Allen says PC Leader Doug Ford has “betrayed” social conservatives by dumping her as the candidate in Mississauga Centre after a video surfaced of her making homophobic remarks.

“It happened again,” she wrote on Monday in an online posting. “Another betrayal of social conservatives — just like (former PC leader) Patrick Brown ... (when) Brown ran for leader, it was the social conservatives which put him over the top. When Doug Ford ran for leader, it was my votes, mainly comprised of social conservatives, which crowned Doug as leader.

“And what was the result of Doug Ford’s victory? I was removed by Doug Ford and his team as the democratically nominated candidate, and another candidate was appointed instead.

“Clearly, Doug Ford is getting bad advice from his advisors.”

On Saturday, Ford ousted the controversial candidate — after repeatedly supporting her, even after a string of anti-Muslim and anti-gay social media posts came to light.

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He made the move after the Liberal party released a 2014 video of her speech to a Croatian-Catholic youth conference where she said: “You know, now what I hear about Hrvatska (Croatia) trying to push radical sexual education on the young or gay marriage you know I almost vomit in disbelief.

“Just 20 years ago we were liberated from this communism but now we are embracing these lack of values, these lack of ideals.”

Conservative sources told the Star Ford was deeply torn about removing Granic Allen. Apart from being instrumental in his March 10 PC leadership victory, her social conservative supporters had helped his brother Rob Ford win the 2010 Toronto mayoral election.

Ford had convinced an ambivalent Granic Allen to run to be an MPP after the Tory contest, but those around the leader convinced him she was a liability, sources say.

Granic Allen said she’s “always been clear” about where she stands on the Liberals’ “anti-family agenda,” and did not apologize for her views.

And she said still expects Ford to keep his promise to scrap the province’s updated sex-ed curriculum, which she has been a vocal opponent of for years.

Meanwhile, Ford is now also dealing with another controversial candidate — one he appointed in London West.

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Andrew Lawton, a radio and podcast host, has made offensive comments on social media and during broadcasts, talking about what he calls the “pussification” of the West, and the “gay community trying to impose its will and its agenda on the rest of the country.”

In a statement, he said he has suffered from mental illness for many years, and attempted suicide in 2010.

“I was active on social media throughout much of this time, posting things that are so far removed from who I am and what I stand for that I can’t even fathom my frame of mind in writing them.”

Over the weekend, Ford also denounced support he’s received from a neo-Nazi group.

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